Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dlfdlic4&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFDLIC4’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences; single-type inflorescences with red-colored ray florets and bright yellow-colored disc florets; relative tolerance to low production temperatures; resistance to Fusarium Wilt and White Rust; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Nov. 5, 2019

Ser. No.: 62/973,983

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S.Patent Application.

Botanical Designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFDLIC4’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium,typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘DLFDLIC4’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plantswith numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination inMarch, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifoliumidentified as code number db 31968, not patented, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifoliumidentified as code number db 11482, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selectedas a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk,The Netherlands in November, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings since November, 2014 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DLFDLIC4’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DLFDLIC4’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences.    -   6. Single-type inflorescences with red-colored ray florets and        bright yellow-colored disc florets.    -   7. Relatively tolerant to low production temperatures.    -   8. Resistant to Fusarium Wilt and White Rust.    -   9. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in ray floret color as plants of the newChrysanthemum have lighter red-colored ray florets than plants of thefemale parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Chrysanthemumare more low temperature tolerant than plants of the female parentselection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemumhave red-colored ray florets whereas plants of the male parent selectionhave purplish red-colored ray florets. In addition, plants of the newChrysanthemum are resistant to White Rust whereas plants of the maleparent selection are susceptible to White Rust.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFELLO’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of ‘DLFELLO’ in ray floret color as plants of the newChrysanthemum have red-colored ray florets whereas ray florets of‘DLFELLO’ are deep red in color. In addition, plants of the newChrysanthemum have larger inflorescences than plants of ‘DLFELLO’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographon the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typicalflowering stein of ‘DLFDLIC4’ grown as a spray-type cut flower. Thephotograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of upper (top of thephotographic sheet) and lower (bottom of the photographic sheet)surfaces of typical leaves (left) and inflorescences (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the late spring in ground bedsin a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production.Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed byshort day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation anddevelopment. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to22° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown assingle-stem spray-type plants and were nine weeks old when thephotographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFDLIC4’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db            31968, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db            11482, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve            days at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 14 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous single-type cut flower            that is typically grown as a single stein spray-type;            upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth            rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 78            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence            plane.—About 84.4 cm.        -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 21 cm.        -   Flowering stein length.—About 74.5 cm.        -   Flowering stein diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flowering stein internode length.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Flowering stein strength.—Strong.        -   Flowering stein aspect.—Erect.        -   Flowering stein texture and luster.—Densely pubescent;            slightly glossy.        -   Flowering stein color, developing.—Close to 144A.        -   Flowering stein color, developed.—Close to between 143A and            144A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 12 cm. Width: About 7.4 cm. Shape: Oblong to ovate and            obovate. Apex: Abruptly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Palmately lobed, coarsely serrate to dentate; sinuses            convergent and medium to deep in depth. Texture and luster,            upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not rugose; moderately            velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety;            slightly glossy. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            developed leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation,            close to 147C. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137B; venation, close to 146C. Petioles: Length: About            1.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Moderately to densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,            upper surface: Close to 146C; edges, darker than 143A.            Color, lower surface: Close to 146B to 146C; edges, close to            between 137A and 143A. Stipules: Quantity and appearance:            Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole attachment to            the stein. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:            Reniform. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately            pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; slightly glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent,            prominent venation; slightly velvety; slightly glossy.            Color, upper surface: Close to NN137A. Color, lower surface:            Close to 137B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Single-type inflorescence form with narrowly            obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;            inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and face            mostly upright to slightly outwardly; ray and disc florets            develop acropetally on a capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and            short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long            day/short night conditions after planting followed by            photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about            48 days later when grown as a spray-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in            an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will            maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; when            grown as a spray-type, about 20 inflorescences develop per            flowering stein.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.7 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.6 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 5.5 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Globular. Color: Close to 145D; at the margins, close            to 145B.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            1.3 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Texture and luster: Distally,            smooth and glabrous; proximally, moderately pubescent;            slightly to moderately glossy. Color: Close to 143B;            immature ray florets, close to 183C to 183D.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 26 arranged in            about two whorls. Length: About 3.3 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm.            Shape: Obovate; slightly concave and moderately carinate.            Apex: Obtuse to shallowly emarginate. Base: Broadly            attenuate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect: Initially            upright to about 62.5° from vertical. Texture and luster,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;            slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to 53A. Fully opened, upper surface: Slightly darker than            179A; at the base, close to 2B; venation, similar to lamina            colors; color does not change with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 166D and N170B; at the base,            close to 154B and 154C; venation, similar to lamina colors;            color does not change with development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 220 massed at            the center of the receptacle. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter:            About 1.25 mm. Shape: Lower 85% fused into a tube; upper 15%            free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin, free-part: Entire.            Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer            surfaces: Distally, close to 6C; at the apex, close to 5A to            5B; and proximally, close to 145C. Color, fully opened,            inner and outer surfaces: Distally, close to 6B to 6C; at            the apex, close to 5A; and proximally, close to 145C.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 20            arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 7 mm. Width:            About 3.5 mm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex: Obtuse.            Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Moderately to densely pubescent; matte. Color,            upper surface: Close to 141A; margins, translucent and close            to 157C and N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138A;            towards the apex, close to 147B; margins, translucent and            close to 157C and N199A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 6.3 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Length, third            peduncle: About 9 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About 3 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly upright.            Aspect, third peduncle: About 30° from the flowering stein            axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; very slightly            glossy. Color: Close to 143A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:            About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C. Anther size:            About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther            color: Close to 12B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to 14A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc            florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About            5 mm. Style length: About 4.5 mm. Style color: Close to            150C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,            decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 153D. Ovary color: Close            to 157C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have            not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum    spp. chrysanthemi (FoNL1)) and White Rust (Puccinia horiana (PhNL1    and PhBE6)). To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been    observed to be resistant or tolerant to pests and other pathogens    common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under commercial conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named‘DLFDLIC4’ as illustrated and described.